April 23, 2020

The company indefinitely suspend operations at its largest pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa and plans to close a pork processing facility in Logansport, Indiana, reported Reuters.

Workers at the Waterloo, Iowa plant tested positive for COVID-19, with others sent home to prevent the spread of the virus. According to industry data, the Iowa plant slaughters 19,500 swine daily or 5% of the entire pork production in the United States.

The plant was initially operating under reduced capacity.

The company is also planning to shut down its Indiana facility after 2,200 of its workers there are being tested for COVID-19.

Steve Stouffer, Tyson Fresh Meats Group President said consumers will notice the impact of facility closures in groceries, adding that it is an important loss for farmers and affects the nation’s supply of pork meat.

The lockdowns that have shut down major processing plants in the United States adds more woes to farmers, who now have a backlog of livestock. Other companies that have closed factories include WH Group’s Smithfield Foods, and Brazilian owned JBS USA.

Tyson Foods said 2,800 workers from its Waterloo, Iowa plant will be compensated during the facility’s closure and be invited for COVID-19 testing. The tests will determine when the factory will be reopened.

Another Tyson Foods factory in Columbus Junction, Iowa is currently operating at reduced capacity.

-      Reuters